Temporary repairs begin to fix broken sewage pipe in Hawick

Lorna Robertson

Scottish Water and Scottish Borders Council are reassuring Hawick residents that disruption will be kept to a minimum as essential, temporary repairs get underway to a pipe damaged during the recent flooding.

Following the torrential rainfall and flooding over the weekend, a pipe on the side of the River Teviot – which is part of the local waste water network - was sheared when a section of the river bank broke away.

SBC is implementing a temporary closure at the Duke Street / Noble Place junction to allow Scottish Water to undertake the work to repair this pipe from today (Thursday).

Access to residential properties and businesses will be maintained on these streets.

SBC will then assess whether the temporary road closure needs to remain in place after the works have been completed. The footbridge will remain closed.

Gary Guthrie, Waste Water Operations Manager from Scottish Water, explained what works are taking place.

He said: “Temporary measures are being put in place to divert the flow of waste water from one side of the River Teviot to the other.

“This involves placing overland pipework from the damaged pipe at the end of Duke Street and over the closed footbridge to connect in with another underground sewer on Mansfield Road.

“Protecting the environment is our priority at all times. We are working with Scottish Borders Council and SEPA to implement a permanent solution as soon as possible and we will keep the public up to date on the progress of this work.”

Scottish Water has already carried out repairs at Hawick Waste Water Treatment Works following the torrential rainfall and recent flooding.